SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING NUMBER OF WIRELESS TAGGED ITEMS IN A TRANSACTION

• US 20080079584A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Tabet, Nicolas N., Atwater, Charles F., Cherry, Craig D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A system and method for reading multiple items bearing electronic tags, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, disposed in a read zone wherein a correlation scheme/system, separate (e.g. non-RF) from the electronic reader, is provided for verifying that all the items in the read zone have been successfully read. Typically, the user operator is then notified whether or not all the items that have detected verification system have been successfully read by the electronic reader.

Claims

1. A method of electronic tag reading comprising the steps of

activating an electronic tag reader to read an electronic tag on each of a plurality of the items located in a read zone;

detecting, separately from operation of the electronic tag reader, the items in the read zone;

verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the items separately detected in the read zone to the items read by the electronic tag reader.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of detecting and verifying comprise

determining the number of items read by the electronic tag reader;

detecting, separately from operation of the electronic tag reader, the number of items in the read zone;

verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the number of items separately detected in the read zone to the number of items determined to have been read by the electronic tag reader.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of detecting and verifying comprise

determining the number of items read by the electronic tag reader;

scanning the read zone with an imaging system to detect the number of items in the read zone;

verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the number of items separately detected in the read zone to the number of items determined to have been read by the electronic tag reader.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of detecting and verifying comprise

obtaining weight for each of the items as read by the electronic tag reader;

obtaining a calculated total weight of the items read by the electronic tag reader by adding the weights of the items having been read;

weighing the items on a scale to obtain a total measured weight of all the items;

verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the calculated total weight to the total measured weight.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of obtaining weight for each of the items comprises using item identification from the electronic tag and obtaining weight data of the item from a lookup table.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of obtaining weight of each of the items comprises extracting weight data stored in the electronic tag itself.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising

notifying an operator that all the items have not been read if in the step of verifying it is determined that the electronic tag reader has not read all the items in the read zone.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising notifying an operator whether the RFID reader has read all the items that have been detected.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of notifying the operator comprises providing an audio signal.

10. A method of RFID reading comprising the steps of

locating a plurality of items in a read zone of an RFID reader and on a weigh scale, each of the items bearing an RFID tag,

obtaining a total measured weight of the items via the weigh scale;

activating the RFID reader to read the RFID tag on each of the items;

obtaining weight of each of the items as read by the RFID reader;

obtaining a calculated total weight of the items by adding the weights of the items having been read;

verifying that the RFID reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the calculated total weight to the total measured weight.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of obtaining weight of each of the items comprises using item identification from the RFID tag and obtaining weight data from a lookup table.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of obtaining weight of each of the items comprises extracting weight data stored in the RFID tag itself.

13. A method according to claim 10 further comprising notifying an operator whether the RFID reader has read all the items.

14. A system for reading electronic tags on items located in a read zone, comprising

an electronic tag reader adapted to read the electronic tag on each of the items;

a detection apparatus, separately operative from the electronic tag reader, that detects the items in the read zone;

means for verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the items separately detected in the read zone to the items read by the electronic tag reader.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the means for verifying comprises a scale system weighing the items to obtain a total measured weight items, whereby a calculated total weight of the items is obtained by adding the weights of the items having been read, whereby the calculated total weight Is compared to the total measured weight.

16. A method for retail checkout comprising the steps of

gathering in a collection unit a plurality of items, each of the items bearing an electronic tag;

reading with an electronic tag reader each of the items to obtain identification date for each of the items;

placing the collection unit containing the items that have been gathered onto a scale at a checkout station and obtaining a combined weight;

obtaining a total measured weight for the items by subtracting weight of the collection unit from the combined weight;

obtaining weight data for each of the items having been read;

obtaining a calculated total weight of the items by adding the weights of the items having been read;

verifying that the electronic tag reader has read all the items in the read zone by comparing the calculated total weight to the total measured weight.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the collection unit comprises a shopping cart, and the weight of the collection unit is selected as a standard weight for all shopping carts.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the collection unit includes an electronic tag identifying the collection unit, wherein the electronic tag reader reads the electronic tag on the collection unit and weight data for the collection unit is obtained for the collection unit that has been identified.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the collection unit is selected from the group consisting of:

a shopping cart, a shopping basket or a shopping bag.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein a user inputs that an interface that a collection unit is on the scale.